Three people were killed, 20 injured and 30 houses burnt yesterday over a land dispute between indigenous people and Bangalee settlers at Shankhola Para of Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachhari hill district.

Former chief adviser to caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday expressed his inability to appear before a parliamentary probe body to give testimony on atrocities against Dhaka University teachers and students in August 2007.

A huge chunk of the Karatoa river has allegedly been occupied by local people at several important areas in Gaibandha and Bogra districts, according to Bangladesh Water Development Board and the Department of Environment.

After the parliament committee on constitution amendment invites the BNP chairperson to dialogue on constitution reforms, the party will send a letter back asking for details on the body's scope of activities.

A Chittagong court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to interrogate two former National Security Intelligence (NSI) directors general at Chittagong Central jail gate in connection with the 10-truck arms haul cases.

The Department for International Development (DFID) will spend £1 billion for Bangladesh until 2015 to encourage private investment, help the government deliver, finance social services and provide better schooling to more children.

The Supreme Court yesterday stayed for four weeks a High Court order directing the government to prosecute four doctors of Shariatpur, including Civil Surgeon Golam Sarwar, for preparing a fallacious autopsy report of Hena Akter.

Editorial

We cannot but express our serious concern about the controversy over the share market scam probe report, whose fate, going by the reports in several newspapers including this one, has become very uncertain. It seems there are very well orchestrated moves afoot to not only divert attention from the report but also to damn the report as well as the head of the probe committee by deliberately discrediting him and questioning the veracity of the findings.

Large swathes of the Middle East remain in ferment. The newest sign of that reality comes from Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad has assured Syrians that the emergency laws in place for nearly half a century will be lifted within a week. The gesture is not spontaneous but is a reaction to the gathering restiveness in the country. In Egypt, the move by the present rulers to detain and question deposed president Hosni Mubarak demonstrates the willingness of the authorities to heed popular demands for substantive progress to democracy. Egypt remains a work in progress.

Sudanese striker James Moga slammed a second-half hattrick as Muktijoddha Sangsad thrashed Arambagh Krira Sangha 4-1 in the last match of Group C at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium yesterday to complete the quarterfinal lineup for the Independence Cup football tournament. Muktis finished top of the group with maximum points and were joined in the quarters by Feni Soccer Club who edged Arambagh on goal margin.

Shakib Al Hasan's left-arm spin was again the star for Kolkata Knight Riders as his two wickets sunk Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League encounter at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last night.

Real Madrid all but relinquished the league title and yet when the final whistle blew, there was a huge roar from the Santiago Bernabeu. Soon, a chant of "Madrid! Madrid!" went round the stadium. If this game's real value was to be found in the psychological impact it could have on the series of four matches in 18 days upon which these sides embarked on Saturday night, for Real Madrid it shifted from fatalism to optimism in 10 unexpected second-half minutes.

The government is losing a huge amount of revenue every month at Burimari land port, the largest one in the north, due to frequent duty-dodging allegedly in collusion with some corrupt customs officials.

Venkataramanan Anantharaman, managing director and regional head for origination and client coverage in India and South Asia for Standard Chartered Bank, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today for a two-day official visit.

Khamis Mohammed Buharoon, chairman of Burooj Porperties, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, recently signed an agreement with Datasoft, a Bangladeshi software company, to form a join venture based in UAE. He speaks to The Daily Star on business issues and opportunities.

One of the most surprising developments resulting from the financial crisis is the belief among ordinary Americans that China has become the world's leading economy. This view appeared in the roughest times of 2009 and has persisted even though the impact of the crisis has begun to ebb. US media have frequently conveyed the same belief. But it is patently absurd.

Every job-seeker is frantic in his/her search for the dream job. The lucky few strive to move on clear guidelines in achieving their goals. They look for tips in making the best first impression in encounters with prospective employers too.

Glencore is already worth as much as $69 billion, with its earnings set to double in two years, according to research from two banks underwriting the commodity trader's potentially record-breaking listing.

The number of unemployed in Spain, which has the highest jobless rate among developed countries, could reach a record of more than five million, the labour minister warned in an interview published Saturday.

Metropolitan

Asian migrant workers' health rights are seriously being violated, leaving them vulnerable in the receiving countries. This issue must be made a top priority, said migration and health experts yesterday.

Chittagong city unit of Awami League (AL) President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury yesterday urged the party leaders and workers to be united against the conspirators who are trying to create anarchy in the country.

A Dhaka court yesterday dismissed a defamation case hours after it was filed against Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haque Inu on charge of making derogatory remarks about late president Ziaur Rahman.

Senior vice president of Chittagong city unit BNP and former Deputy Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Dastagir Chowdhury passed away due to cardiac arrest on his way to the city from Dhaka yesterday.

A Dhaka court will hear a seven-day remand prayer today to interrogate two former National Security Intelligence (NSI) director generals in connection with the August 21 grenade attacks on Awami League (AL) rally in 2004.

“Tajuddin Ahmad Trust Fund” was established at Dhaka University (DU) yesterday in memories of late Tajuddin Ahmad, the first prime minister of Bangladesh and a key organiser of the Liberation War of 1971.

Two more prosecution witnesses yesterday gave their statements before a Dhaka court in connection with a money laundering case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, and Ismail Hossain Saimon, son of former shipping minister late Akbar Hossain.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) conducted a drive on Kuakata sea beach on Saturday and recovered at least 100 acres of khas land worth about Tk 350 crore from illegal possession of 18 realtors.

Police yesterday arrested a college girl in connection with the murder of the acting resident medical officer (RMO) of Sirajganj General Hospital at a government dormitory near the district judge's court on Saturday.

Five boys and girls were seriously injured in wall collapse yesterday morning at Basupara under Sonadanga police station of Khulna city. The injured are Rony, 6, Belal, 5, Shahed, 6, Fatema, 6, and Afroza, 7. All of them are students of class one at Islamabad Government Primary School. The accident occurred as a speeding truck, laden with sand, hit a roadside boundary wall. A portion of the wall fell on the kids when they were returning home from their school. They were admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) in critical condition. Police seized the truck while its driver escaped soon after the accident.

Coastguard personnel Sunday morning seized a cargo with 150 sacks of rice meant for open market sale (OMS) and arrested a man in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat. Acting on a tip-off, a coastguard team from Mongla found the rice in MV Rana Reza and arrested Nazrul Islam Sharder, informed Lt Ziaul Haque, operation officer of Coastguard West Zone. The arrestee along with the rice was later handed over to Mongla police station. Arrestee Nazrul told police he bought the OMS rice from Alamgir Kabiraj, a resident of Bhandaria upazila in Pirojpur, and was taking it to Khulna to sell at regular market.

Members of Coastguard in a drive seized 100 maunds 'jatka' (hilsa fry) from a launch in Dhaleswari river at Pagla Saturday morning. Acting on a tip-off, a Pagla Coastguard team conducted the drive in the river and seized the jatka from the Dhaka-bound launch MV Gazi-4 at around 6:30am. Later, the seized fries were handed over to officials of fisheries department to take legal action. None was arrested in this connection.

A 'regional leader' of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) Red Flag faction was held in Santhia upazila on Saturday night. The arrestee is Md. Islam Khan, 35, son of Abul Kashem of village Lakhmipur in the upazila. Islam is the regional leader of PBCP Red Flag faction, also accused in several cases including murder, police said. Officer-in-charge of Santhia police station SM Bazlur Rashid said, on a tip-off, police raided Lakhmipur village on Saturday and arrested Islam near his residence. The arrestee was sent to jail yesterday.

A trader died on the 'Baishakhi Mela' (fair) ground at Srimongal upazila headquarters of Moulvibazar on Saturday night. The dead was identified as Altaf Hussain, 35, son of late Tara Miah of Gazipur village in Srimongal upazila. Police at Srimongal police station claimed that Altaf Miah, while riding a 'Nagor Dola' (merry-go-round), died of heart attack. But Abdul Mannan, leader of Srimongal NAP (Muzaffar) and father-in-law of younger sister of Altaf suspected that police charged batons at the mela and Altaf died following the baton charge. He said, police brought Altaf to Srimongal upazila health complex where on the duty doctor declared him dead. Md Abdullah, officer-in-charge (OC) of Srimongal police station however said he sees no reason to baton Altaf. He died of heart attack because of riding 'Nagor Dola', he said.

Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) has announced a convening committee for Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) on Saturday night. Samsuzzaman Chowdhury Suman became the convener of the 7-member body. The joint conveners are -- Naeem Hasan, Asaduzzaman Asad, Kamruzzaman Sweet, Mahibul Hasan Mukit, Atikur Rahman and Hafizur Rahman Hafiz. “The committee will perform the activities until a complete body is announced through council later.” Said Mahfuzul Hayder Chowdhury Ratan, general secretary of the central body. The last SUST BCL unit committee was formed in 2003 and its tenure expired on 13 July, 2010.

A severe storm accompanied by hails lashed Singra upazila of the district damaging standing Boro crops on 3000 hectares of the land Saturday evening. Local sources said the storm hit 30 villages of Ramananda-Khajura, Sukash, Itali and Chougram unions at 5 pm. The violent storm also damaged 50 dwelling houses and uprooted a huge number of trees in the villages.

Baghaichhari police could not arrest any culprit till yesterday after a case was filed for Wednesday's double murder at Kadamtali village in Marishya Union under Baghaichhari upazila. Chijimoni Chakma and his two-year old daughter were shot dead by unknown criminals at his residence. Victim's wife Ratna Chakma filed a murder case accusing ten people with Baghaichhari police station in this connection, Nayeem Uddin, officer in-charge (OC) of Baghaichhari police said.

A Senior Judicial Magistrate court here on Tuesday sentenced a fraud to three years imprisonment for cheating a man in the name of sending him abroad. The court also fined Mohiuddin Chunnu of Palot village in Rajapur upazila Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer one year RI more. According to the prosecution, the convict took Tk 1.15 lakh from Rustam Ali of Station Road area of the town on November 14 in 2006 for sending him to Middle East. But he failed to send him to Middle East and refund the money.

Letters

If, as is apparent, the stock scam probe committee is composed of honest and impartial men, then there is no excuse for not publishing their report in full. Less than a hundred scamsters are named with details of their manipulations. Sadly they belong to all (especially the two main) political parties, SEC and DSE big-wigs aptly described by Daily Star as “Protectors turned Predators” and elite businesspeople.

My heart bleeds every time I pick up The Daily Star and read news on rape, murder, muggings, torture, maiming, acid-throwing and an endless list of other crimes. Nowhere in Bangladesh is safe, though the Home Minister and police top brass claim. The Home Minister even has the audacity to tell us that crime has decreased since Awami League assumed power. Isn't this claim making us completely fools? Bangladesh's well-wisher Sir Frank Peters demonstrated inarguable logic when he questioned on our behalf how authorities could claim crime had decreased when the majority of crimes were not even being recorded as the police demand baksheesh.

I have been writing to this newspaper for years to influence our thoughts towards the danger of rickshaws. We did not pay proper attention to this epidemic of a problem sooner. Now perhaps, it is almost out of control. Rickshaws must be controlled immediately before the pullers/owners threat and force everyone in this country to ride rickshaws.

At present doctors are taking Taka 400-500 as fee from each patient. It's impossible to pay such amount to the doctors by day labourers, rickshaw pullers, garment workers and other low income people. There is no treatment in the government hospitals. Most of the specialised doctors are government doctors. Doctors see the patients in his private chamber in the morning, in the lunch break and in the afternoon. But the main business starts in the evening and it finishes at around 11 p.m. To see a patient, a doctor takes at the most 4-5 minutes. Doctors are just running after money. Some doctors visit around 50 patients a day but they enlist only 10 patients.

It is unpleasant but worthwhile to note that mugging and murder in different parts of the capital for a couple of months have been on the rise. The reports in the dailies from various sources say that several killing incidents in the hands of the miscreants have occurred in last few months. It also points fingers at the failure of the police forces that are liable for providing people with security. The most heart-rending fact is that a number of law enforcers are known to be involved in favouring the criminals for their personal interest. We hope the law and order maintaining authorities should take the occurrences into their consideration and award the criminals with the utmost punishment in order to hold the wheel of crime.

The last page photograph of The Daily Star published on 7 April of the bus stopping to let off passengers; raises this interesting question. Yes, it is illegal for parking, as the sign states; but stopping for one or two minutes, to pick up or let off passengers; is in that sense does not mean parking, by definition of the word! Surely stopping on the road for a minute or two; to pick up or drop passengers; is in that sense not 'parking' It could be called as stopping for 'customer service'! Logically it can not therefore be called 'illegal' or 'prohibited' as stated in the sign; which states 'No Parking'

According to Islamic Law a daughter gets half the inherited property that a brother owns from their father. By this law the female actually gets more than a brother. If a father died keeping one lakh and a fifty thousand taka for his single son and a daughter, the Islamic law suggests that the son will get Taka one lakh and the daughter will get Taka fifty thousand. Now, if the daughter wishes to save her share, she can. But his brother has to bear all the family expenses. Also, the brother has to pay denmohor to his wife from his share. While his sister will once again receive denmohor from his husband. Again, Islamic law imposes economic liability to the shoulder of a male and that's why he is given double the amount of a female so that he can bear that liability better.

As reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP) a 37-year old Australian man named Arthur Freeman has killed his four-year-old daughter Darcey by throwing her from Melbourne's West Gate bridge into the river on January 29, 2009 amid a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife over their three children. What an unkind and brutal act! Reportedly the day was supposed to have been Darcey's first day at school. Her two brothers aged six and two had witnessed their sister drowning. This is the curse of broken marriage. The man has been convicted of murdering her daughter by an Australian court and jailed for life.Meanwhile I would like to suggest the Australian authority to erect a pillar near the bridge in the memory of Darcey inscribing the unkind act of her heartless father.

Recently Jahangirnagar University authority show caused a teacher to explain why action should not be taken against him under 'JU staff efficiency and disciplinary act' because of his write up against irregularities in the administrations of the country's public universities and their vice-chancellors, including the JU VC in a national daily. Around 60 teachers of the university already formed a human chain on the campus to denounce the show cause notice. Our country is a democratic country. Each and every Bangladeshi has the right to express his/her opinion, then why a University's Associate Professor have to show cause to the authority on his opposite opinion?

Recently, South Breeze School has opened a junior section just at the entrance point from Satmasjid road to Zikatola, renting a private house. Many cars are parked near the school thus blocking the main road. As a result heavy traffic congestion takes place everyday and compels commuters to sit on the rickshaws or other mode of transportations for hours to get to the Satmasjid road. As an old resident of Zikatola, I have never experienced such congestion until the school was established. I believe it is the duty of the city corporation to consider many aspects before issuing a school license on a busy intersection. It is my request to the school authority as well as other concerned authority to shift the school from that place considering its importance and the hazards that the commuters face everyday.

The chief of BNP very often demands interim election in Bangladesh. She knows it very well that her demand has no merit because the present government is in firm footing with 3/4th majority and no such interim election ever happened in the past in Bangladesh so the only way to remove this government is through “no-confidence” motion in the parliament. Why is she then talking about interim election in the country? How does she know that if there is an interim election the people will vote for her? Instead of demanding an interim election she should campaign for a free and fair election next time. Only free and fair election will bring permanent democracy in Bangladesh.

An employee interacts more with his office colleagues than that of his family member during his service tenure. So office atmosphere is an important factor for sound living of an employee. Obviously it should be congenial. In reality, in most of the offices irrespective of government or private, congenial atmosphere does not prevail. The power exercising positions must be knowledgeable. Otherwise, misuse of power creates antagonistic environment in the office. The top boss of the office must be unbiased. Again, there are some people in every office who scandal mongers. They should be detected and trained up professionally. If only a colleague would be considerate to his other colleague, the hostile situation in any office can be turned to friendly situation.

A few days ago, Musa Ibrahim, the first Bangladeshi to reach the summit of Mount Everest, visited The Aga Khan School, Dhaka as a guest speaker for a 7th grade physics project. It was undoubtedly a remarkable experience to meet him in the school premises. The man who actually conquered the highest peak of the world had inspired and encouraged the students to challenge themselves. As a guest speaker, he had transformed the monotonous and tedious school hours into an exhilarating, interactive and engaging learning opportunity. I strongly perceive that if schools provide their students with opportunities like this, they will be more motivated to pay attention to their studies as well as to develop our whole country.

Rarely does Bangladesh get a mention in the news and on Radio and TV talk shows in Australia, except in the form of political unrest and embarrassing law and order issues. Like a breath of fresh air recently the subject was different, positive, and literally had everyone here talking about it.

By any definition, the ruling government has presided over a character assassination of Dr Yunus. Our politicians indulge in character assassination as standard operating procedure. Now, suddenly, the government is concerned about the possible character assassination of its wealthiest supporters. What false modesty! Who are they trying to fool? Simply being able to say something at a press conference does not make it true. It seems our politicians think that the public lives in another country with no knowledge of what actually goes on in Bangladesh! The public knows the ugly truth but the public is, as usual, helpless in the face of the cabals that have a stranglehold on our politics.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Japan yesterday to remain active on the world stage and pledged support for Washington's key ally in East Asia as the operator of a stricken nuclear plant finally set out a timeline to shut it down.

While Nato foreign ministers ended their meeting in Berlin on Friday with a show of unity in the military campaign against Libya, the two-day summit had exposed further cracks in the alliance and now questions are being asked about whether Nato's air strikes are being ramped up from protecting civilians to all-out regime change.

Cuba will consider placing term limits on its leaders to assure new blood in the government, President Raul Castro said on Saturday in a speech kicking off a Communist Party congress on the island he and his brother led for more than five decades.

A bomb killed three Nato soldiers in southern Afghanistan, the joint force said yesterday, bringing to eight the number of foreign troops killed in the country in the deadliest day since June last year.

Arts & Entertainment

A documentary on the life of renowned musician and martyred freedom fighter Altaf Mahmud premiered at Shawkat Osman Auditorium, Begum Sufia Kamal Central Public Library, Shahbagh in Dhaka on April 16. Sentu Roy is the director of the documentary, titled “Altaf Mahmud”. Bangla Dhoritri was the organiser of the premiere.

Baul singers from different regions of the country rendered traditional and popular folk numbers at Rabindra Sarobar, Dhanmondi in Dhaka on April 16. The programme, 'Baul Shommelon' was organised by Amy's Workshop. The event also featured a discussion attended by Information and Cultural Minister Abul Kalam Azad; folk song collector and researcher Mustafa Zaman Abbasi; writer, publisher and one of the trustees of Liberation War Museum, Mofidul Haque and Professor Harun Uzzaman.

The name Armeen Musa brings to mind the hit song "Bhromer Koiyo Giya" [A Radharaman composition rearranged by Fuad]. The popularity of this track is testament to the musical talent that Armeen possesses. Starting her journey with the band Enshrined, playing at concerts in Dhaka, Armeen soon discovered a burgeoning love for music which led to her composing original songs and soon carving a niche in the Bangla pop and underground music scene. After moving to England, she gained further exposure culminating in collaboration with Kishon Khan's Lokkhi Terra. In 2008, she released her debut solo album "Aye Ghum Bhangai", featuring her band, The Grasshoppers, among numerous other guest musicians.

OP-ED

The first day of the Bengali New Year, Pahela Baishakh, drew a sea of people on to the streets of Dhaka. It was people, men and women of all age groups -- youths, parents with children, middle-aged men and women -- walking all around wearing traditional dresses. Women were clad in white sarees with red border, while men wore punjabi, pyjamas and chappal (sandals) or nagra shoes. But they were loitering as if aimlessly under a mostly gloomy sky. The sky overcast with cloud was a blessing in disguise, because on previous other Pahela Baishakhs the scorching sun would beat down mercilessly on the celebrants.

Corruption is a death-trap for any nation. It does the same thing to a nation as does a bug to timber. It eats the vitals from within and makes it a hollow shell ready to crumble into dust any moment. Bangladesh has surely been in the death grip of that vicious bug for long and now seems to have reached a stage where from it might seem almost impossible for any government to save it from total collapse.